This year I decided to put in 10 lobster pots. I will put them out of casting range and away from main boat traffic. I know your frustration.
I have to say that some of my favorite fishing spots both from shore and boat have been littered with pots. One spot off Quicks hole had so many pots I could not drift thru without getting hung up. I spoke to a few lobsterman about this last fall. Why so many pots? They claim that lobstering in non-Maine waters is pretty poor and in order for them to make a living they need more pots.
I usually rolled my eyes and said...does that seem like the right fix to this problem? More pots because the fishing is poor? It is the commercial mentality. I do not think you will have much success, the reason is they think like this: " I am doing this for a living, it is important to me. You are surf fishing for recreation, you should not impact what I do for a living." This is their thinking and while you may get them to move a few pots for a spell I can bet they are on the dock laughing at the thought of changing their fishing habbits for you.